Bulk bin discharge means



E. A. RAYNOR 2,776,078

BULK BIN DISCHARGE MEANS Jan. 1, 1957 Filed Dec. 17, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l WA-i POWER ME ANS 0 Edward A.v Raynor INVENTOR.

Jan. 1, 1957 E. A; RAYNOR' BULK BIN DISCHARGE MEANS s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dc. 17 1953 INVENTOR.

Edward ARaynor Jan. 1, 1957 Filed Dec. 17 1955 E. A. RAYNOR BULK BIN DISCHARGE MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 7 I I l I H g Q v 1 V a g 0 0 n 1 I i i I i m n 1 Q l v I! m 1 g a v v v' m N Qk. tn b D 1 n s? I i m i i m v v 1 I v I g m 7 P Edward A. Raynor v N 9 e INVENTOR. .9 BY k MW EM United States Patent" 2,776,078 BULK BIN DISCHARGE MEANS Edward A. Raynor, Biggs, Calif. 7 Application December 17, 1953, Serial No. 398,659-

7 Claims. (Cl. 222413) This invention relates to a bulk bin discharge means, and more particularly to means for regulating the flow of material to the discharge augur at the bottom of a bulk bin.

An object of this invention is to provide abulk bin discharge means which will prevent the augur from being drowned or clogged by the force of the weight of the bulk disposed in the bin.

Another object of this invention is to provide a discharge means for a bulk bin wherein the doors for regulating the flow of material to the discharge augur receive only side pressure rather than vertical pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bulk bin discharge means which comprises doors adapted to cover openings in a casing and which doors are adapted to slide under a hood disposed above the casing when the doors are moved from a position closing the casing.

A still further object of this invention isto provide a bulk bin discharge means having a pair of doors for regulating the flow of material to the augur and which doors are actuated simultaneously by a common actuating means.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a bulk bin discharge means which is simple and eflicient in construction, and durable and lasting in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view taken in section of the discharge means forming the subject of this invention;

Figure. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the doors in a closed position;

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially along the same plane as Figure 2 but with the doors shown in an open position; and i Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the improved bulk bin discharge means forming the subject of this invention includes, as shown in Figure l, a casing adapted to be secured to the bottom of a bin 12.

The bin 12 is substantially V-shaped and is provided with inwardly sloping bottom walls 14 connected together at their ends by end walls 16. The bottom walls 14 have their inner edges spaced apart and receive therebetween the tubular casing 10 which is secured to the inner edges of the bottom walls 14 by welding, or the like. The tubular casing 10 is positioned so that a major portion thereof extends upwardly within the bin 12. The bin 12 and casing 10 are supported by suitable leg members 18. The tubular casing 10 is sealed at one end thereof, as at 20, and the other end thereof is open to provide an outlet therefrom. A shaft 22 extends through the closed end 20 of the tubular casing 10 and extends longitudinally through the tubular casing 10. The shaft 22 is supported at the open end of the tubular casing 10 by means of a spider 24. An augur-type blade is secured to the shaft 22 for rotation therewith. Means are provided for imparting rotation to the shaft 22, and the augur 26. This means comprises a sprocket 28 secured to the end of the shaft 22 extending through the plate 20. A sprocket chain 30 is entrained around the sprocket 28'and around a sprocket 32 which is secured On a shaft 34-which is connected to a power source. Thus, rotation of the shaft 32 will drive the chain 30 and will in turn drive the shaft 22 and augur blade 26.

Means are provided for allowing material to flow from the'bin 12 into the tubular casing 10. This means comprises a plurality-of longitudinal openings in the casing positioned adjacent to and above the connection of the casing 10 with the bottom walls 14. These openings 36 extend substantially one-fourth of the circumference of the tubular casing 10 which is disposed within the bin 12. A plurality of inverted T-shaped brackets 38 are mounted in longitudinally spaced position within the bin 12 above the tubular casing 10. The brackets 38 are held in position by means of rods 40 which are secured to the bottom walls 14 on opposite sides of the tubular casing 10 and converge upwardly toward each other and are welded to the brackets 38 and the bottom walls 14. Ashaft 42 extends parallel to the tubular casing 10 and through the end walls 16 and the upper portions of the brackets 38. The shaft 42 is provided with collars 44 at each end thereof outwardly of the bin 12 whichcollars 44 engage the other surface of the end wall 16 to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 42. Each end of the shaft 42 is provided with a lever 46 rigidly secured thereto for imparting rotation to the shaft 42. The levers 46 are positioned outwardly of the collars 44.

The shaft 42 is provided with a plurality of V-shaped members 48. Each of the V-shaped members 48 comprises a pair of outwardly diverging legs connected together at one end. The members 48 are secured to the shaft 42 at the junction of the leg portions thereof. A link 50 is secured to the outer end of each of the leg portions of the members 48. The links 50 are pivotally secured to the members 48.

A pair'of elongated arcuate-shaped doors are disposed within the bin 12 in overlying relationship to the tubular casing 10. The doors 52 are of a width slightly greater than the width of the openings 36. The doors 52 are each provided with a plurality of ears 54 adjacent the bottom edge thereof to which the links 50 are pivotally secured. The doors 52 are movable from positions overlying the openings 36 to positions overlying the closed portion of the tubular casing 10 which is disposed within the bin 12.

An arcuate-shaped hood 56 is secured to the lower edges of the brackets 38 and extends parallel to the tubular casing 10 and is spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the doors 52. The width of the hood 56 is slightly less than the width of the closed portion of the tubular casing 10 which is disposed within the bin 12. Thus, when the doors 52 are moved to open the openings 36, they will be positioned between the closed portion of the tubular casing 10 and the hood 56. The doors 52 are also of such a width so that the upper edges thereof will be positioned between the hood 56 and the closed portion of the casings 10 within the bin 12 when the doors 52 are in overlying position with respect to the openings 36.

In practical use, when the bin is being filled, the

doors 52 are in the position shown in Figure 2. When it is desired to discharge material from the bin, the lever ,46 is moved in the direction-shown in Figure 3., thereby moving the doors to the position'indicated in Figure 3. Since the upper portionof thedoors-is covered by the hood 56, the matereial inthe -bin*will not interfere with the movement ofthe doors to the position indicated'in Figure- 3. The doors 52- can be set at any desired position to regulate thefiow of material through the openings 36 into the tubular housing 10. The augur .blade 26 will cause -the material entering the tubular casing 10 to be moved towards the open end of the easing 10 and be dischargedtherefrom. In some instances, itmay be desirable to provide-a shield for the links 50 and members 48. This may be desirable when the material for-which the bin is to be used is wet and sticky. Any suitable covering can be used, as desired.

From the foregoing, the construction'and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a bulk bin having downwardly and inwardly sloping bottom walls with spaced lower edges, a tubular casing secured to said lower edges of said bottom walls, said casing having a major portion thereof extending upwardly into said bin, an augur in said casing, said casing being provided with a pair of spaced longitudinal openings, said openings being each positioned adjacent to and above the connections of the bottom walls to the casing, a pair of arcuate doors mounted for sliding movement adjacent the upper portion of said casing and adapted to move simultaneously froma position above said casing between said openings to a position covering said openings, and means for actuating said doors.

2. In combination with a bulk him having downwardly and inwardly sloping bottom walls, a tubular casing secured to the inner edges of said bottom walls, said casing having a major portion thereof extending upwardly into said bin, an augur in said casing, said casing being provided with a pair of spacedlongitudinal openings, said openings being each positioned adjacent to and above the connections of the bottom walls to the casing, a pair of arcuate doors mounted for sliding movement adjacent the upper .portion of said casing and adapted to' move simultaneously from a position above sa'id casing between said openings to a position coveriiig 'said'openings, and means for actuating said doors, said: bin being provided with a hood mounted therein, said' hood being concentric with and spaced above said casingsaid hoodextending between the upper edges of iii) said longitudinal openings, said doors being movable to a position lying between said hood and said casing when said openings are uncovered.

, 3. In combination with a bulk bin having downwardly and inwardly sloping bottom walls, a tubular casing secured to the inner edges of said bottom walls, said casing having a major portion thereof extending upwardly into said bin, an augur in said casing, said casing being provided with a pair of spaced longitudinal openings, said openings being each positioned adjacent to and above the connections of the bottom walls to the casing, a pairof arcuate doors mounted for sliding movement adjacent the upper portion of said casing and adapted to move simultaneously from a position above said casing between said openings to a position covering said openings, means for actuating said doors, said means comprising a shaft mounted in said bin and having the .ends'thereof extending through the ends of said bin, a-plurality of longitudinally spaced V-shaped members secured to said shaft inside said bin, a plurality of first links connecting one side of said v-shaped membe'rs to' one of said .doors, and a plurality of second links connecting the other side of said V-shaped members totheiother 'ofsaid doors and handle means secured to each end of said shaft for imparting rotation theretow'to cause-said-doors to be moved simultaneously.

4. The-combination of claim 3 wherein said bin is provided with :a hood mounted therein, said hood being concentric with andspaced above said casing, said hood extending between the upper edges of said longitudinal openings, said doors being movable to a position lying 'betweensaid' hood and said casing when said openings are uncovered.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said hood is spaced above said casing aFdiStance slightly greater than the thickness 'of each of said doors to provide a guide means for said doors during the movement thereof.

6. The-combination of claim 5 wherein each of said doors has an upper end which remains between said casing 'andsaid hood ,atzall times to prevent material from'entering-the space between said hood and said casing.

7.The combination of claim 3 wherein said V-shaped members are 'provided'with a pair of outwardly extending legs joined together at one end, said members being-secured to said shaft at the junction of the legs, saidjfirst links'being connected to one of said legs and said "second -links being connected to the other of said legs.

'IReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ge -a a t. 

